Missouri Regulations: Air Pollution

Missouri’s air pollution regulations are authorized by the Clean Air Act and enforced by the Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) or the local air pollution control office (in Kansas City, Springfield, City of St. Louis and St. Louis County). If a business releases or discharges pollutants into the air through a stack, or as a fugitive dust, mist or vapor as a result of a manufacturing or formulating process, then it is considered a generator of air pollution.

Examples of some business practices that are regulated include overspray and drying from painting and coating operations, evaporating solvents from parts cleaning or degreasing operations, perchloroethylene from dry cleaning operations, aerosols containing ozone depleting compounds, dust from rock quarry operations, and sawdust from mills and wood working shops.

The specific requirements that apply to a particular business are dependent on several factors, including:

• where the business is located (i.e., whether the business is located in a "non-attainment" or an "attainment" area)
• the kinds of pollutants the business emits into the air, and
• the amount released

All businesses are encouraged to reduce releases of what EPA has identified as six criteria pollutants because of their significant detrimental impact on community health. Criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (a leading cause of ozone), sulphur dioxide, and inhalable particulates. MDNR regulates these pollutants to adhere to National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Businesses located in Missouri's "ozone non-attainment area" are required to adhere to more stringent regulations than those located in other parts of the state. Non-attainment means that the community failed to meet air quality standards. Missouri’s non-attainment areas include the eastern counties of Franklin, Jefferson, Saint Charles, Saint Louis, and the City of Saint Louis. Lithographic printers, gas stations, users of industrial adhesives, automotive refinishers, companies using solvents to clean metal parts, and wood finishers are examples of businesses that must use additional controls in non-attainment areas. Visit www.dnr.mo.gov/forms/haplist.pdf (pdf) for a complete list of HAPs.

Several air regulations target specific industry types, requiring them to reduce their releases of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) known to cause harmful health effects to humans and the environment. HAPs include asbestos, benzene, beryllium, arsenic, mercury, radionuclides, and vinyl chloride. Dry cleaners, chromium electroplaters, users of halogenated solvent cleaning products, and wood furniture manufacturers are impacted by HAP air pollution regulations.

Several chemicals known to deplete the stratospheric ozone, which shields the earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, have been phased out of use in business and industry. These chemicals include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, and hydrofluorocarbons.

New facilities and older facilities that are updated are required to use technology standards for limiting air emissions of regulated pollutants. Some businesses may be required to obtain construction or operating permits which include enforceable emission limitations, compliance schedules, monitoring, and reporting requirements, and payment of annual fees based on emission quantities. Businesses that do not need a permit may still be subject to certain regulations and requirements (pdf).

As with hazardous waste generators, air emission generators may be subject to inspection by DNR, and both civil and criminal penalties may be imposed for compliance violations

Who Should Apply for a Permit?

MDNR’s Air Pollution Control Program (APCP) is concerned with any pollutants a business process may emit into the air. To determine if an Air Pollution Permit is needed, MDNR asks these questions:

1. Does the business use or store: paints, thinners, solvents, degreasers, petroleum products, or other similar liquids?
2. Will the business regularly use, handle, or produce dry bulk materials such as cotton, cement, limestone, lime, sawdust, fly ash, fertilizers, grain or feed?
3. Does the business process include sawing, shredding, chipping or grinding materials in its operations?
4. Does the business use combustibles (such as fuels) other than in small space heaters, or emit any other known pollutants?

A “YES” answer to any of these questions may indicate that the business is required to obtain a permit from the APCP or a local air pollution agency. Contact the appropriate agency for advice on which specific permit(s) are needed for the business:

• Missouri Department of Natural Resources Air Pollution Control Program
  (573) 751-4817
• Kansas City Air Quality Division
  
(816) 513-6177
• Springfield-Greene County Air Pollution Control
  
(417) 864-1412
• St. Louis County Environmental Air Pollution Control Division
  
(314) 615-8916

For more information, see MDNR’s Environmental Permits and How to Obtain Them (pdf). This helpful guide summarizes all environmental permits, exemptions and how much the permit costs.